title: Effect of Chaihu Shugan San and its components on expression of ERK1/2 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats with chronic mild unpredicted stress depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the antidepressant effect and mechanism of Chaihu Shugan San (CHSGS) composition, a compound traditional Chinese herb medicine and its components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group, model control group, a CHSGS group, a component I group, a component II group and a fluoxetine control group. The depression model was replicated by chronic unpredictable mild stress and single house for 28 d. Behavioral scores of the rats were detected by Open-field test and sucrose solution consumption test, and ERK1/2 mRNA expression in the hippocampus tissue was assayed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERK1/2 mRNA expression was down-regulated in the depression model group compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, ERK1/2 mRNA expression in the CHSGS group and fluoxetine group was both up-regulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and only ERK1 mRNA expression in the component I group was up-regulated (P<0.05). No significant difference existed between the component II group and the model group (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isolated-living condition and chronic mild unpredictable stress can down-regulate the expression of ERK1/2 mRNA in the hippocampus tissue. CHSGS may exert an antidepressant effect through increasing the expression of ERK1/2 mRNA in the hippocampus, component I may play an important role in its antidepression effect, while compatibility of the use of component II can enhance the antidepressant efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrated Medicine; Key Unit of SATCM for Traditional Chinese Medicine Gan, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. wangsue0909@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Su'e
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Suiyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chunhu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yunhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497000:chaihu-shugan-san; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3